Cinekid Festival: Medialab

Bakkus, de verhalenverslinder is an audio installation by sound collective De Merel uit de Machine, where children co-create and tell time-travel stories together with AI. At the centre of a cosy seating area — complete with colourful cushions on a vibrant rug — stands a speaker topped with a softly pulsating light. From the speaker comes a playful story about a dinosaur. Next to it stands a microphone on a stand, inviting children to respond to the questions asked by the voice from the speaker. Their answers are incorporated into the continuation of the story.

The voice might ask: “What is the dinosaur afraid of?” A child grabs the microphone, pauses to think, and shouts: “Rabbits!” The voice reflects for a moment and replies: “Technically, rabbits didn’t exist during the age of the dinosaurs, but let’s go with it.” The story then continues, explaining that the dinosaur was especially afraid of rabbits with pink backpacks.

Creators
Hay Kranen
Nienke Huitenga Broeren
Lieven Heereman